Electric safety signal device.



J. A. SGHBL'LENGER. ELECTRIC SAFETY SIGNA L DEVICE. APPLICATION FILEDMAY 26, 1911.

Paitented June 3, 1913.

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nal Devices, of which the following is a specification. v

The invent onrelates to improvements 1n electrical {signal systems formine shattsi; elevators, orthe like, and has for an ob ect' toprovide'ai simple signal system wherein, the cost 01% installation andmaintenance is reduced to a minimum, the necessity ofvconstantelectrical contact between the car and the bus-bars is eliminated, andthe possible chance of disarrangement of the parts is practicallyobliterated.

With the above, and other objects in viewwhich. will appear as thedescription' progrosses, the invention resides in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the system is illustrated as preferablyapplied, and in which drawings,

Figure l is a vertical view of a mine shaft with the system arrangedtherein. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the mine shaft and cage disclosingthe relation of the coacting' part-s. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewof the circuit closer in detail.

Reference being had to the several views of the drawing, wherein likenumerals indicate similar parts, two conductors designated by thenumerals 1 and 2 and preferably comprising substantially L-shaped anglebars, are secured to and parallel with one of the walls of the shaft.'From the upper end of the conductor 1 a connection 3 is led to abattery 4, comprising a sutlicient number of cells in series, and to thehell or other signal device'5, preferably located in the en- .gine room.An insulated connection 6, leads from the hell 5 tothevbell 7, locatedon the first levelof the mine, and a connection 8 from the belt? to thehell 9 located on the second or lower level. The remaining postof thehell 9 is connected to the conductor 2 by theconnections 1O.

The circuit closing means, to be mounted on the cage, comprises asubstantially T- shaped member, consisting of a contactbar 11 adapted tospanthe two conductors in its Speeificatienof Letters -1? tent.Application as May as, 1911. Serih l no. seas la.

operativeposition and formed with a push rod 12 intermediate its endsand atright angles to its axis, the freeend of the push rod beingthreaded to receive the hand grip 13. A suitable housing, consisting ofa lease plate 14 formed cent-rally with an opening 15 adaptedto receivethe push rod 12,

i Patented-June 3, 1913.. i

and a casing 16 also provided with an open- I ing 17 and a tubularextension 18 projecting inwardly from the opening. A coiled spring 19 isplaced on the push rod 12 afterit has been inserted in the opening 15 inthe base plate 14 and the hand grip 13, is then inserted in thetubularopening 17 of the easing 16 and attached to the push rod therebyplacing the spring under tension between the baseand the inner face ofthe grip, the diameter of the latter being greater than that of the pushrod. 5

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the system applied, asillustratedf'the usual constant sliding contacts or suspended cableconnect-ions between the cage and the signal circuit is dispensed with,anequal resistance in'the circuit is maintained by reason of the simplearrangement of thewiring, one end of the signal circuit being connectedat the top of the shaft to the conductor 1 and the other end to thelower end of the conductor 2. Whenit is desired to signal engineers inthe engine room or the workmen at any of the levels, the operator pushesinwardly upon the grip against the tension of the spring thereby forcingthe.

contact, bar 11 outward from the side of the cage and into contact withthe conductorsthus completing the circuitt-hroughout' the system. Assoon as the grip .is released'the spring returns the contact bar to itsinoperative position.

Having thus described the invention, what- I claim as new is I In asignal system for mine shafts, the

combination with the shaft and a cage slid-.

able therein, of a pair of rigid conductors secured to one wall of theshaft adjacent the path of travel of the cage and spaced apart, anelectric circuit and a source of energy therein, said rigid conductorsforming overlapped terminals of the circuit and having connections withthe circuit at relatively opposite ends, a plurality of signal devicesconnected in series in the circuitand adapted to be arranged at thevarious levels in the mine and adjacent the cage hoist, means car- Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature ried by said cage and operable tobridge the in presence of two witnesses.

said rigidIconducto-rs in the movement of w the cage whereby the signaldevices may. be JOSEPH L G operated, and means for holding the last-Witnesses:

named means out of contact with the rigid JOSEPH H. PmnsoN,

conductors. MARION SQ WI-IITLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five. cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' I Washington, D. 0.

